Springfield Hoping New Turf Will Thrive at Golf Course

Springfield Country Club’s golf course had been struggling for years with its Ryegrass, which accounted for a majority of its acreage, about 15 acres of fairways and about three acres of tees.

Each year Springfield had to spend money on things like watering and pesticide applications for the grass, which managed to die in the heat and humidity every year, said James Simpson, General Manager of Springfield Country Club.

It was time, money and effort for naught, so this spring the club decided to returf with a grass called Latitude 36, a type of Bermudagrass, which has received one of the highest turf ratings from tests done at national universities, and which the USGA has been recommending. It is used at Lincoln Financial Field and Nova Care Center in Philadelphia.

Simpson told Springfield Patch that they are the golf course the farthest north to use Latitude 36 on their fairways and tees. (He said local courses use it on their practice tees.) Simpson said that money for the new product was essentially coming out of what they would spend on taking care of the ryegrass.

With the construction of the new Marriott and a new outdoor patio for the restaurant Tavola’s, the club figured it was the right time to change out the grass. Plus, it’s a grass that grows in the heat.

They started the work on July 5 and closed the course for two weeks.

After it reopened there was a “communication gap” with its online booking agent, which did not inform golfers that they were getting a great deal on a round of golf because the course’s new grass was thin and healing. (Simpson said that those who called the pro shop to reserve were told of the conditions.) 

The course was also closed last Monday. There is a soft opening planned for this Friday and weekend. You cannot book a round of play online, only by calling the pro shop or by walking in.

Simpson said weather will determine when the course will be fully healed.